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fliotographic 

Sciences 
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23  WESV  MAtN  STREET 

Wri5STIR,N.Y.  14580 

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^ 


SPEECH 


O  F 


MR.  THOMPSON,  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ON    THE 


OREGON    QUESTION. 


DELIVERED 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES, 


JANUARY  28,  !  S  4  6. 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED  AT  THE  UNION  OFFICE. 

I  846. 


i 


I       <M 


SPEECH. 


On  the  resolution  giving  the  twelve  months'  notice  for  the  termination  of  the  joint 

occupancy  of  the  Oregon  teiritory. 


The  House  being  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  on 
the  state  of  the  Union — 

Mr.  THOMPSON  addressed  the  committee  as 
follows: 

Mr.  C»iAinMAK:  I  have  desired  an  opportunity  to 
ocrnjiy  the  attemion  of  the  committee  for  a  short 
time  on  tlii.-*  great  question.  I  have  the  honor,  sir, 
in  part,  to  r(  present  an  old  Commonwealth,  occu- 
pying an  important  position  in  the  rcpulilic,  and 
feeling  a  deep  conrern  in  all  that  may  he  presumed 
to  materially  afTect  the  general  interests.  I  shall 
neither  speak  loud  nor  long  on  this  subject;  and,  in 
setting  out,  1  may  be  peninitted  to  say  that  I  enter- 
tain views  \cry  widely  differing  from  many — nay, 
most  flf  the  iientlemeit  who  have  spoken  on  this 
question.  We  have  been  told  by  very  many  of 
them  that,  this  notice  passing,  war  was  to  ensue — 
actual  and  inriital)le  war — with  England.  Now, 
sir,  let  us  think  of  that,  and  look  at  the  signs  a  lit- 
tle. A  month  ago  I  entertained  the  opinion,  and 
expressed  it  repeatedly,  that  there  would  be  no  war 
if  the  notice  were  given.  All  through  the  debate, 
gentlemen  on  both  sides  of  the  question  spoke  of 
war — on  the  one  side,  admitted  that  it  mifrht  come; 
and,  on  the  other,  that  it  was  inevitable.  Why,  sir, 
where  do  you  see  any  signs  of  war?  Look  out  all 
over  the  face  of  nature  and  society,  and  there  is  no 
war  there.  The  President  says  nothing  of  the  kind. 
The  Sen  — yes,  sir,  they  will  preclude  the  sup- 
po.'sed  po:.sibiluy — it  is  only  a  prediction — of  a 
war,  or  chance  of  war,  by  voting  down  this  notice. 
The  press  throughout  our  couutry  is  everywhere 
peaceful.  So  it  is  in  England.  Sir  Robert  Peel  did 
remark,  some  time  ago,  that  "they" — the  English — 
"had  rights  (in  Oregon)  which,  if  violated,  they 
would  be  reaily  to  maintain."  And  who  doubts 
that-  Ts'obndy  proposes  lo  invade  any  of  their 
rights  vnJcr  the  treaty;  and  Sir  Robert  Peel 
could  certaiidy  have  meant  no  other  rights  while 
the  treaty  remains  in  full  force.  Is  there  war  in 
this.-  The  Queen  has  said  nothing  about  war,  the 
British  cibinet  nothing;  and,  sir,  we  h.ive,  by  the 
late  arrivals,  the  views  of  the  press  there  since  the 
receipt  of  the  Pre.sident's  mest^agc.  Their  com- 
ments on  that  document  are  perfectly  pacific.  The 
recommendations  of  the  President  to  give  this  no- 
tice; to  erect  stockades  on  the  road  to  Oregon;  to 
rn!^o  the  riHcmen;  to  establish  an  Indian  agency;  to 


extend  our  laws  over  the  territory;  to  send  our  mails 
there — all,  all  this  is  spoken  of,  and    the  perngraph 
usually  ends  in  a  little  bit  of  a  compliment,  that  Mr. 
Polk   is  a   very  clever    writer.      Sir,   there   ia  no 
war  in  this;  the  whole   poetry  of  the   thing  is   de- 
.^troycd   by  this   late   arrival.      Some   body    there 
proposes  to   trade   off  Oregon  for   the  tariff.     Sir, 
i  will  stand  no  trade  of  that  kind,  rest  assured  of  it. 
No,  no,  sir.     A  friend  of  mine  from  Illinois  has  ex- 
hil)ited  some  anxiety  to  know  my  course  on  this 
I  subject     I  have  arrived  at  the  right  point  to  tell  him 
now;   (here   Mr.  T.  looked  round  for  hiiw,  and  re- 
:  marked  that  he  did  not  .see  him,)  but  I  will  tell  him 
'  F   go  for  the  ivlink  of  Oregon,   and  the    tariff  too! 
j  The  whole  of  Oregon.     (Applause.)     I   am,  there- 
fore, opposed  to  the  trade.  But,  sir,  tiiere  is  nothing 
j  like  war  irf  this  proposition  to  trade,  in   my  judg- 
ment.    Let   us  see  further.     It  is  s;iid  the  Englisri 
'  are    repairing   their  fortresses,    mounting    cannon 
I  on  the  fortifications  at  Sheerness,  Pitmbroke,  Ports- 
1  mouth,  .Jersey,  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Why, 
j  sir,   do  you  suppose   the  old  gentleman    (Johnny 
Bull)  is   really  afraid    the  Yankees  will   come   over 
the  water  and  take  these  places  from  him.'    Soberly 
and  .seriously,  docs  any  gentleman  suppose  it  is  on 
account  of  us  he  is  arming  these  places.'     Why,  sir, 
there  is  peace  everywhere — everywhere  but  hen,  in 
this  little   dark  circumference — this   hall.     Excuse 
me,  sir,  when    I  .'ay  1  have  sometimes   thought  of 
the  story  of  the  "Tempest  in  a  tea-pot." 

Englai-d,  sir,  conscious  of  her  position  and 
of  her  title,  has  never  exhibited  as  much  .-sensitive- 
ness  in  relation  to  this  subject  as  gentlemen  seem  to 
suppose.  I  have  exhibited  a  little  of  the  .spirit  of 
the  pre.sa  in  nlation  lo  the  recommendations  of  our 
Executive.  No  alarm  has  followed  it  in  England.  Bui; 
we  have  gone  further  on  this  subject.  The  ven- 
erable gentleman  from  Mas.sachusetts,  [Mr.  Adams,] 
while  President  of  the  of  the  United  States,  in 
182(),  recommended,  I  believe,  the  erection  of  a  fort 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  liver,  on  Cape  Dis- 
appointment. He  will  correct  me  if  I  err.  This  is 
on  the  north  side  of  it.  Actual  fortification,  com- 
manding a  most  important  position,  was  recom- 
mended by  him.  Mr.  Monroe  had  made  a  similar 
recommendation.  The  English  made  no  objection, 
and  no  threats  of  war  on  that  account,  and  do  not 
seem  to  do  so  now,  under  present  recommendations, 


»«, 


t 


i 


England  .sccnis  to  Iiavr,  borrowed  h(;r  faith  in  licr 
title  from  UH.  From  this  hull  valuahlc  le.HHonf<  may 
be  Ifarncd  on  that  side  of  the  tmcstiori,  and  if  she 
does  bluster  much  al'out  it,  she  will  be  mii';h  cii- 
couragod  ii.  doing  so  on  aixount  of  oci:uirfnccs 
(  here.     But  that  is  not  the  po  nt  just  now;  the  arj;u- 

ment  is,  that  if  wc  irive   tl;c  notice  we  shall  h:ive 
I  war. 

I  Was  that  tiic  understand ing  by  the  parlies  when 

-  t'.'  treaties  of  1818  and   1&21  for  joint  occmany, 

U  ON    .'lome   call    it,    werp    entered    into  r      Diu    ine 

President,  the  Senate,  tlie  Kinj;,  and  the  House  of 
Lords  so  understand  i'.'  Did  tiiey  understand  that 
a  tj-ea>';  of  peace,  which  ,iro\ided  for  the  com- 
mencement  of  u  war  had  been  entered  into,  whicli 
l'  agreei"  .hat  'he  convention  should  be  terminated  on 

'  a  nplice  of  twelve  months   by  either    party  to  the 

\  other,    which     notice     slior.ld    be    equivalent     to 

»  u    declaration    of    war>'     This,    si",     this    would 

''  have    been    something    of   a    novcity.      If   it    be 

so,  that  the  giving  of  notice  to  end  the  joint  occu- 
pancy shall  be  ef|uivaleiit  to  a  declaration  of  war,  1 
i>eg  to  say  it  places  the  parties  in  a  dilemma,  truly. 
Without  speaking  of  rights,  it  would  1)3  this:  if  the 
occupancy  continued,  the  party  having  the  right 
might  lose  it  by  the  growth  and  encroachment  of 
the  other;  and  if  the  power  getting  woi.stcd  by  the 
operation  should  give  the  notice  to  quit,  he  must  be 
prepared  to  fight  it  out  This  would  be  changing 
the  question  of  title  into  the  contingencies  of  the  re- 
sult of  a  war  about  it.  1  think  I  give  but  a  fair  anal- 
ysis of  the  argument  that  makes  the  notice 
equivalent  to  war.  Why,  sir,  tlie  notice  is  not  a 
war  measure;  the  press  in  England  don't  at  all  speak 
of  it  as  such;  and  I  will  take  leave  to  venture  my 
belief  that,  in  the  estimation  of  every  civilized  power 
on  earth,  war,  as  the  result  of  this  notice,  would  be 
considered  as  n  violation  of  the  spirit  and  intent  of 
that  treaty.  Wliat  would  be  the  effect  of  the  no- 
toco?  Simply,  sir,  to  remit  the  parties  to  their  ori- 
ginal rights.  What  would  be  our  poeition.*  The 
Secretary  of  State,  [Mr.  Buchanan,]  in  his  powerful 
and  conclusive  argument  on  the  subject  in  the  late 
negotiation  with  the  English  minister,  has  shown 
clearly  that  England,  at  the  treaty  of  1818,  by  her 
ministers,  recognised  the  United  States  as  the  party 
in  possession  of  the  territory  for  all  objects  of  nego- 
tiation between  the  governments.  This  being  so, 
sir,  if  we  give ''o- notice,  England  must  move  first: 
we  c*re  in  possession,  and  she  not.  Would  she  be 
juKstitied  in  fighting  on  sight.'  No,  sir;  she  must 
make  such  offers  as  would  put  her  in  the  right;  she 
must  move;  and  if  that  can  be  done,  we  .shall,  1  trust, 
never  be  ready  to  fight  in  the  wrong.  An  arrange- 
ment would  soon  follow — a  final  .settlement  would 
ensue. 

Suppose,  Mr.  Chairman,  the  notice  given,  and 
Great  Britain  should  take  it  into  her  head  to  go  to 
war,  her  manifesto  would  be  a  curiosity  I  rather 
think.  We  will  suppo.se,  of  cour.se,  that  it  would 
contain  a  true  statement  of  her  title — the  right  she 
was  remitted  to  by  reason  of  the  treaty  being  end- 
ed. She  would  begin  by  stating  that  one  John 
Meares,  a  lieutenant  of  the  royal  navy,  at  the  time 
m  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  sail- 
ing inaPortuguese  vessel,  landed  at Nootka  in  1788; 
whiie  there,  made  some  trades  with  the  natives; 
among  other  things,  procured  a  right  to  build  there; 
relumed  ^ihc  n^xt  season,  and  commenced  building 
a  vessel.  The  viceroy  of  iVIcxico,  conceiving  it  an 
interference  with  the  territorial  rights  of  Spain,  seiz- 
ed and  confiscated  two  ships  then  lying  in  the  iound 


I — the  Argonaut]  and  Princess  Royal — which  were 
'  al'terwnrds  given  up;  required  him  to  leave  the  spot, 

and  broke  up  his  establishment.  He  proceeds  to 
I  England,  on  behalf  of  those  interested  in  the  estab- 
,  lishment  and  property,  to  procure  from  thatgovern- 
I  nient  a  demand  of  indemnity  from  Spain  tor  the 
j  seizure.     Before  uiriving  there,  however,  8])ain  hud 

made  known  to  Great  Britain  her  intention  to  de- 
I  mand  from  that  government  f)uni.-.timent  on  the  ag- 
jgreasor,  and  guarantees  and  as-  urances  against  fu- 
ture aggreKS'iuns  by  the  subjects  of  that  jiower  on 
.  her  possessions  on  the   north    Pacific.     Gentlemen 

will  bear  in  mind,  for  this  is  briefly  the  position  of 
I  the  parties  up  to  that  time,  ih  it  Spain  claimed  rc- 
j  dress  for  a  territorial  interference;  and  on  the  arrival 
]  of  Meares,  England  made  a  demand  on  Spain  for  an 
!  injury  done  to  personal  property  of  one  of  her  sub- 
jjticts.  These  were  the  issues,  territoiial  and  per' 
'  sonal.  The  negot'  .lions  resulted  in  the  treaty  sign- 
j  ed  at  the  Escurial  on  the  24th  October,  1790.    This 

I  treaty  previded  for  the  restoration  of  the  liuids  and 
jbuildinga  which  hud  been  seized.     In  point  of  fact, 

I I  believe  the  rcoreupation  never  took  place.  The  two 
j  following  articles  of  that  convention  1  shall   read, 

as  showing  what  was  agreed  on: 

I 

I        An.:!.  In  order  to  strcnsjtlieii  the  lionds  of  rrieoflship, 

j  and  to  preserve  in  liitnre  perfect  )i;irniony  and  good  under- 

;  stiiiidin{(  lietween  tlie  two   rontrnctiiiir   |)arties,  it  is  agreed 

i  thai  llieir  respeetive  subjects   shall  not  lie  distiirt)ed  or  re- 

stiii'ted  in  can')  ini^  on  Wmir Jishn'ii'^  in  the  rncific  oiean  or 

ill  tin;  Sonth    sea.i,  or  in  landinir  on   the  coasts  of  those 

1  mil-,  in  places  not  already  occnpied.  for  the  purj  o«e  of  cai- 

j  ci/nij  1)11  iiiiiimtrif  with  Hie  iinlii(^  of  the  country,  o:'  oi  ma- 

I  khii;  settlements  tlnre;  the  wholu  suhject.  nevertheless,  to 

the  restrictions  sjiecitied  in  the  three  following  Brticlts.' 

The  oih  article,  being  the  only  important  one  on 
this  subject,  I  will  give: 

"Art.  .").  As  well  in  the  places  .which  are  to  be  re.^tored  to 
tin:  Ijritish  ^u^Jects  liy  virtue  of  the  first  article,  as  in 
all  other  jiiuts  of  the  northwestern  coast  of  .North  America, 
or  of  the  islands  adjacent,  situate  to  th(>  north  of  the  pa.-ts  ol 
the  said  coast  already  occnpied  by  Spain,  wherevi-r  the  iub 
./(i/4-  ol  either  of  the  two  powers  shall  have  made  settlements 
since  the  month  of  \pril,  1789,  or  shall  HKlltAKTKRmake 
any.  the  sulijecls  of  the  other  shall  have  iree  access,  and 
shall  carry  on  theii  trade  without  any  disturbance  or  moles- 
tation.'' 

The  above,  Mr.  Chairman,  is  the  title  conferred 
by  the  Noolka  Sound  convention,  so  much  relied  on 
by  England.  I  shall  not  stop  to  inquire  whether  this 
treaty  was  afterwards  destroyed  or  abrogated  by  the 
w.irof  179G,  or  revived  in  1814.  Commercial  trea- 
ties are  certainly,  as  a  principle  of  i'  ternationallaw, 
abrogated  by  war.  Why.-  Simply  because  it  de- 
pends upon  future  arrangements  whether  the  parties 
shall  ever  be  at  peace,  and  if  never  at  peace  the  trea- 
ties arc  at  an  end.  But  I  will  not  further  argue  this 
point.  What  rights  do  these  articles  quoted  give  to 
England  .'  The  right  of  soil,  or  the  right  of  commerce? 
I  say  "gife"  to  England;  for  can  any  gentleman  be- 
lieve that  Eng'and  conceived  herself  the  owner  of  one 
inch  of  that  coast  by  prior  right,  and  entered  into 
j  that  treaty  on  the  terms  used  in  it  ?  Did  she  con- 
I  ceive  that  she  was  acquiring  title,  exclusive  or 
otherwise,  to  any  of  it  ?  The  burden  of  the  stipula- 
tions is  for  carrying  on  the  fisheries,  and  for  trade 
and  commerce  with  the  natives  of  the  country,  "or 
of  making  settlements  there  ;"  the  whole  subject  to 
"the  restrictions  in  the  follov.ing  articles,"  one  of 
which  stipulates  that  settlements  north  of  the  terri- 
tory occupied  by  Spain,  made  by  the  subjects  of 
either,  after  1789,  the  subjects  of  the  other  .should 
have  free  access  to,  and  right  to  "carry  on  trade" 
with  them.    If  subjects  of  Spain  eetiled  north  of  the 


^ory 
{tishnl 
be   liil 

froni 
er  tli'l 
irotccl 

treat  I 
the  e(1 
0,  byi 
I  did  nl 
kin  huiT 
ire  b^ 
mdaryl 
1  notol 
e  Ktipil 
MdidF 
srior  1(1 

result! 
•e  ten 
jinal  t\ 
houui 

Ut  10 

karne 
8,  (Mr 
ion.s  ag 
'  lengtl 
I,    the 
eed  for 
er  duri 
•or     [• 
an  agr 
uld    rip 
exclu> 
lation  I 
t,  beca 
J  perio 
ndland 
)pose,  tl 
se  circui 
eyed  int 
iViention 
Bnglani 

vhich 
a  agree 
xin.  i* 
eement 
romiitei 
h  U.S.  ^ 
.hSpair 

enterir 
h  Spaii 
un,  Er 

No()il 
thing— 
title  to 
is  JSJoo 

the  fo 
I,  if  my 

Charlc 


al — Ahich  A'crc 
:o  leave  the  spot, 

He  proceeds  to 
<'d  in  the  estab- 
rom  that  j;overn- 
1  Spain  lor  ine 
/ever,  Spain  had 

intention  to  de- 
ment on  the  ap- 
ices against  fu- 

that  jjower  on 
fie.  Gentlemen 
f  the  position  of 
>ain  claimed  rc- 
id  on  tlie  arrival 

on  Spain  tor  an 

one  of  her  sub- 
itoiial    cind  pcr- 

the  treaty  si>;n- 
jer,  1790.  This 
jf  the  liinds  and 
In  point  of  fact, 

place.  The  two 
n  1  t;hail   read, 


Uoiy  o.-cupied  by  Spain,  that  was  ali  right;  if 
riiniimtn  ."eitled, 'that  way  nil  right;  neither  was 
be    hihdiirtd  by  the  other,  this   ris:ht  was  to   re- 

from  the  truity;  Kn>;lislimen  were  to  scltlf 
er  the  treaty;  and  the  pnvilci^c  of  trade,  a.s  well 
)rotcctioii,  wa.s  the  consequence.     IJut  Huppo.se 

treaty  ended  by  war,  or  otherwise,  what  would 
the  efftt.a.'     ( loi, Id  Eni,'li!-hmen  .'settle  there  then? 

0,  by  wliut  right:  Not  under  the  treaty;  for 
t  did  not  exist.  Hud  they  any  otiier  title.'  Sir, 
tin  had  acipjired  title  more  than  two  centuries 
jre  Ijy  di.sc.overy,  as  far  north  as  the  northern 
indary  of  Oresoii.  This  England  knew.  It 
J  notorious.  Do  gentlemen  think  .she  would 
e  Ktipulated  for  i\  right  to  fi-h  and  .settle  there 
M  did  not  know  thiH .'  If  .«ii.  had  no  title  liu'ic 
wior  to  this  Nootka  sound  title,  what  would   be 

result,  then,  with  her,  if  thai  convention 
•e  terminated?  She  would  be  remitted  !0  her 
final  lille;  if  that  did  not  exist,  siic  would  be 
houUi  claim  or  jiretence  of  right.  Here  .sir,  I  am 
ut  to  .state  u  principle,  and  I  call  the  attention  of 

learned  colleague,  '.he  chairman  on  Foreign  Af- 
s,  I  Mr.  C.  J.  In'okrsoll,!  to  it,  It  is  this:  if  two 
ion.s  agree  mutually  to  occupy  a  territory  for 
'  length  of  time   together,  or  for  an  indt  ilnite  j)e- 

1,  the  right  of  neither  by  the  occupancy  so 
eed  for  acquiris  or  gains  strength  as  against  the 
er  during  the  time  tlie  agreement  lasts.  I^j  this 
•0:  [''Yes,  yes,*'  from  several.]  It  is  so.  If  not 
an  agreement  for  reciprocal  navigation  of  a  river 

aid   ripen  into  a  title,  no  matter  whether  v/ithiii 

exclu.-'ive  jurisdiction  of  but  one  power  or  not. 
latiori  might  ilemand  the  perpetual  opening  of  a 
iportantone  on  t,  because  I 'V  treaty  it  had  been  open  for  a  defi- 
»  period.  VVe  might  liave  a  title  to  the  New- 
ndland  fi.sheiief  if  this  were  so.  But  it  is  not  so. 
>pose,  then,  we  look  at  the  title  so  situated  under 
seciicunistances.  The  .subjects  of  Great  Britain 
eired  into  the  territory  under  the  Nottka  sound 
iwniion;  and  suiii)ose  that  continued  in  force  un- 
Ekigland  entered  into  the  convention  of  1818  with 

which  is  only  admitted  for  argument  so  to  be. 
e  agreement  with  us  ended  the  agreement  with 
lin.  Suppose  we  should  now  terminate  the 
eemeiit  entered  into  with  us.''  England  would 
wimilted  to  her  rights  anterior  to  her  argeement 
,h  U.S.  Wliat  vvouiti  they  be.'  Why,  an  agreement 
.hSpain.  Suppose  that  agreement  is  terminated  by 

eniering  into  the  convention  with  us,  by  the  war 
h  Spain,  or  by  notice  now,  under  our  title  from 
lin,  iMiglaiid  is  remitted  to  her  rights  anterior  to 

Nootka  sound  convenlion;  and  what  were  they.' 
thing — nothing,  sir.  For  .she  mads  no  pretence 
title  lo  the  lerritur)-  now  claimed  at  that  time. 
is  Nootka  sound  <■(  nvention  i.s  now  relied  upon 

the  foundation  and  superstructure  of  her  title, 
!,if  my  position  be  correct,  confers  none  whatever. 

Charles  Fox  said  of  this  convention  in  1793 — and 
was  quite  a.i  English  as  any  body  here  could  dt- 
3_«n  authority  to  be — after  noticing  .several  incon- 
lities  ill  it,  "that  it  reminded  lum  of  a  lawyer's 
II,  written  by  himself,  who,  at  a  particular  clause, 
de  a  marginal  note:  '■'ThisxclU  afford  a  glorious 
ince for  a  auit  i)ic/ia»ic(riy.''  i  v\'ill  not  stop  to  say 
w  unkind  this  remark  was  to  the  profession — 
laugh] — but  I  will  say  that  it  exhibited  clearly 
),  opinion — cotcmporaneous  opinion  of  English- 
iDh— of  that  treaty  as  the  foundation  of  title.  Will 
ha  Dull  go  to  war  on  this  title?  Why,  .sir,  he 
8  ipways  been  desircus  to  preserve  appearances — 
eg  the   world   to   believe  he  has  a  good  cause — 


no    matter    liow    the    fact 
my  juvenile  du,  i  of  re\ding 
HuU  and   llroth.r  Jonathan.'''' 


nd"!  of  frieodship, 
y  and  good  undrr- 
urties,  it  IS  agreed 
le  distiirt)ed  or  re- 
M  IMcitic  ortan  or 
e  cuastR  of  those 
the  puq  o<e  of  car- 
•ouutry.  or  of  mo- 
,  nevertlules';,  to 
wing  articles.'' 


:  to  be  re.-.tored  to 
rst  article,  as  in 
f  .N'ortli  America, 
rill  of  the  i)a.-t5  ol 
wlierevff  tfn  su6 
made  settlements 
llKAKTKRmake 
ree  access,  and 
rbance  or  moles- 


title  conferred 
much  relied  on 
re  whether  this 
Jrogated  by  the 
mmercial  trea- 
ernational  law, 
because  it  de- 
er the  parties 
leuce  the  trea- 
ther  argue  this 
quoted  give  to 
of  commerce? 
gentleman  be- 
ownerof  one 
entered  into 
)id  she  con- 
exclusivc  or 
f  the  stipula- 
and  for  trade 
country,  "or 
ole  subject  to 
cles,"  one  of 
of  the  terri- 
subjects   of 
other  .should 
ry  on  trade" 
north  of  the 


1 


is.  I  rfinemi  cr  in 
a  book  •■ailed  ''  Jokn 
The  old  !;ciitlemai> 
waa  represented  lecturing  his  son  Jonathan  al)out 
not  paying  ta<es  and  t'U  duties,  &<:.,  without 
grumbling.  There  was  a  [)icture  in  the  book.  Thete 
.stood  Jonathan,  a  long,  lank,  guant-lookiiig  fellow, 
and  beside  him  John  IJull,  very  genteel  in  appear- 
ance, toilet  recently  made,  speaking  in  the  most 
i'ourteou.s  inaiiner  to  his  undutiful  fon,  with  one 
hand  in  liis  bosom,  and  the  olhtr  i<liily  slipped  into 
Jonathan's  p'lcket — [A  laugh.]  He  was  ! pre- 
serving apjiearaccs.  An<l  he  will  try  and  do  bo 
a'^ain;  and,  if  appearances  are  again:H  him,  he  will 
not  fi;:ht.  IJoth  ippearancea  and  facts  are  against 
him  in  our  case. 

But  siippo.sc  England  sliir»ild  determine  to  fight, 
what  does  she  risk?  L'',  us  i;)ok  at  this  as  a  nece»- 
aary  means  of  asceriaining  liie  probabilitieii  about 
her  ultimate  course  in  this  matter.  Sir,  this  mani- 
festo thut  I  havi.  iiccn  ciiisidering,  -t'ould  be  scanned, 
lier  title  exajniiied,  and  she  convicted  in  the  judg- 
ment,not  only  oi  cotempoiaries,  butof  the  world,  inall 
time,  of  injus;;.  e,  and  conseijuently  dishonor.  But 
again:  agentlei'ian  the  oilier  t^ay  told  us  tlialberpo»- 
tcssions  on  the  north  .stretched  along  for  three  thou- 
sand miles;  that  they  contained  as  many  sqiKire  ri  les 
a.';  the  United  States.  Will  she  risk  this?  Why,  air, 
Michigan  propo.-;es  '•>  annev  all  this  to  herself  m 
ninety  day.'i,  [laughing.]  Hut,  seriou.sly,  would 
she  ever  risA;  these  imnien.sc  posv'CKsioiia  for  the 
the  acquisition  of  a  few  parallclcj  of  latitude  north  of 
the  Columbia?  Why,  the  loss  of  her  Anr.cri'-an 
|)0ssc:  sions  wou':!  be  the  era  of  her  decliiie  and 
final  downfall.  '\iil  she  risk  it?  Will  gentlemen 
who  have  i;postrophized  her  "agacity  be!;eve  that 
she  will  not  hiiik  of  this  ?  In  my  opinion,  Mr. 
Chairman,  she  wou'd  as  certainly  lo.'-'e  these  posses- 
sions, if  she  goes  to  wt.i  with  us,  as  that  I  am  stand- 
ing on  this  iloor.  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia, 
U[)per  and  Lower  Canada  would  all  be  lost  to  her 
forever!  Michigan  will  hardly  be  expected  to  per- 
form all  this,  b  :  it  will  be  perfectly  within  the  pow- 
er of  the  Union. 

Her  commerce,  too,  what  of  that  ?  Gentlemen 
give  us  glowing  pictures  of  the  injury  to  ours  in  the 
event  of  wai.  Hers  is  said  to  be  much  f^reater,  and 
would  it  oot  sulTor  as  much  as  ours?  If  injury  to 
commerce  be  an  argument  to  induce  a  sai.ifice  of 
right.s  on  our  part,  will  it  have  no  effect  to  counter- 
vail aggression  on  the  part  of  England  ?  This  ia  an 
argument,  which,  if  it  may  be  enplied  to  us,  has 
much  greater  force  v/hen  a[)pealcd  Ld  her,  because  ner 
commerce  is  more  extensive,  and  because  it  is  more 
important  lo  her  than  our.s  to  us.  Will  she  risk  her 
commerce  ? 

But.  sir,  there  is  Ireland.  Will  she  risk  Ireland? 
— at  least  a  bloody  conflict  to  retain  it?  The  standing 
army  there  now  i.s  required  to  be  iJ9,0UO  strong,  1 
believe.  Will  she  risk  a  conflict  there  ?  This,  she 
knows,  she  would  most  inevitably  do  by  going  to  war 
with  ua. 

And  France,  sir — ay,  here  is  the  solution  to  the 
enigma  of  her  islandic  preparations  tor  war.  France,, 
like  a  huge  serpent,  lies  in  envenomed  coils  :u  her 
feet,  ready  at  the  moment  of  opportunity  to  st;  ;'.e  her 
ancient  toe.  When  death  shall  have  called  hence  her 
so  called  republican  king,  then  comes  the  difficulty. 
Will  there  be  no  pretender,  no  struggle  on  the  peirt 
of  the  exiled  house  of  Bourbon?  If  not.  will  there 
not  be  difficulties  on  "he  subject  of  the  regency.' 
The  Count  de, Paris  if  but  a  child.  Who  wili'be  :o- 


1 


■  *■> 


gent?  Tbi  inactive,  or  ruther  paasivft  Duki:  de  Ne- 
EHOurM?  or  tlie  Queen  mntlici.-'  or  the  victonouB  d«; 
Joinvilie  ?  France  muHt  and  will  cscjipc  inttiBtine 
trouble  only  by  foreif^n  war.  And  wbile  Agon- 
court,  Creasy,  PoictierH,  and  Waterloo  are  bittrrly 
remembered,  and  Htil!  unnvenpcd,  will  not  the  war 
(most  I'kcly  to  occur  witb  Kn^jlcnd.-  The  convic- 
tion in  England,  if  we  may  believe  the  intelligent 
Bourceaof  infiirmation  in,  a  rufiluro  witb  France  on 
the  death  of  Louis  I'bilipix!.  He  iti  now  very  old; 
and  in  view  of  this,  Knf^land  ih  |.rpparin{^.  John 
Bull  is  tyint;  up  hia  waim,  rollinj:  uphia  Hl(eveH,aHd 
making  ready  for  the  conflict.  He  txpcciH  it  soon. 
Will  be  rink  the  conjuncture  of  ;i  war  witlniy,  which 
would  increase  the  probabilities  of  u  war  with 
France? 

Mut,  in  a  war  with  us,  how  are  the  man  "'.c- 
turern  of  England  to  get  along?  How  can  their 
work-shops  exist.  How  will  she  provide  against 
Btarvniiiiii?  or,  at  least,  aguintit  much  serious  in- 
jury? Where  will  she  get  her  cotton  from?  Lei  me 
assure  the  genllenian  from  South  Cari.lina,  [Mr. 
RnETT,J  that  this  will  be  u  most  serious  ohsiiide  in 
the  way  of  war,  and  that  the  cotton  bales  of  the 
South  will  again  not  only  be  a  secure  breast-work 
against  the  enemy,  but  will  insure  us  flic  \ictory 
over  him.  [Merriment.]  Wii!  England  not  think 
of  this — of  her  manufacturer.s? 

But,  lastly,  there  comts  the  cIkidccs  of  being 
beaten — horse  foot  and  dragoons.  Would  ahc.  think 
of  that?  Will  the  contest  with  llcn-ules  in  his  cra- 
dle be  forgotten?  In  infancy  wc  achi<'ved  our  inde- 
pendence, and,  1  trust,  disenthralled  a  continent.  In 
youth  we  gained  a  ghn-ious  victory,  iiolwillistiuid- 
ing  her  power;  and  arc  not  our  chances  now  a.s 
bright — our  success  as  probable — nay,  certain? 

Thcgentleman  from  Virginia,  [Mr.  Pkmh  i;t.'KJ — 
the  "lone   star"*  from   the   Old    Dominion — and    1 
conceive  it  quite  ft  compliment  to   call  him  thus 
from    such    a    Commonwealth — gave    us   but  the 
other  ilay  quite  the  other  side  ofllie  picture.     It  wa.s 
in    style    a   very    hahdsome    srieecli — it    certainly 
was — [langh.]     1  as.surc  gontlt  men    it  was.     I  ad- 
mired   the   style  and    (he   execution.      I'nt  in    that 
speech  he  told  us  of  the  wisdom  of  England — of  Ih  r 
power;  that  she   had    concpiered  in   every  land,  al- 
most   on    every    field ;    that     she    ruled    the    sea 
"On  every  wave,"  &c.     I   beg  pardon,    1  did  not 
mean    'o    quote    poetry — [iireat  laughter.]     Uy  the 
way,  sir,  1  see  that  rascally  Herald  (New  York)  has 
got  all   the    poetry   that    has  been  expended  on  this 
subject,  in  hi.^  paper,  all  together  side  by  side, without 
context — [Mr.  Hoi.mks,   or   f)retext| — yes,  or  pre- 
text— ln'ijiniiing    with    Mas.sachusetts    atid  ending 
with    Michigan— [merriment.]       But,    as    I    was 
saying,  the  genilemaii  spoke  of  her  immense  pos- 
sessions everywhere  scattered  over   the   earth,  and 
said    that    the  "roll  of  her  drums  could    be   heard 
around    the    globe."      It    was    very    graphic;    the 
description  was.     I    thought   the  gentleman    licard 
the   drums   as    he   described.      Upon    my    word, 
sir,   I  thought    I   did.     Indeed   it    seemed    so.     I 
felt  like  it,  and  felt  a  ^'kellc  scared^''  as  ,Satn  Slick 
would  say.     [Laughter.]     But  let  us  see  the  force  of 
the  gentlemaii'.i  appeal,   or  argument.     I  am  con- 
vinced that  an  appeal  uuchas  this,  nuide  lo  that  gen- 
tleman,   would    under   all  circumstances   be   disre- 
garded, if  he  felt   he  was   right.     Accustomed    to  a 
liabitude  of  tluniglil  when  regarding  that  Old  Com- 
momwealth,  (Virginia,)  that  he  so  ably  represents, 

*lhe  Jiilv  wiiisr  from  N'irshiia. 


-   the    a;iggliter.| 

r,   it  WNiJeee   w^ 

toat)pr>iir.     A 


$(n,v,  to 
I  feel  constrained  to  say,  that  I  am  sure  the 
to  her  would  fall  upon  a  deaf  ear.  Sir, 
argument  to  ourfcais — it  was  an  ap))eal  to(q)p 
sion.  What  do  yoii  think  of  the  argument?  :t  of  tlif- 
nic  give  an  illusiraiion.  Suppose  I  should  hit  with  the 
tremendous  bruiser,  and  he  should  seize  me  bvie  in  the 
collar,  and  say  I  want  your  coat;  I  reply  you  y  were  m 
have  it.  He  rejoins,  "I  will  have  it,"  I  look  u:re  improti 
u  bit,  as  we  s:iy  in  the  v'if,l.  | Laughter.]  I  remeii  an  arnu 
he  has  flogged  Bendigo,  licked  Jim  Byrne,  » Aurrpe 
made  the  Deaf'un  give  in,  nnd  would  have  (lire  that  ihi 
Molyneanx  himself,  only  he  was  dead,  jtlcioi'^ht  a 
Laughter.]  I  m;ike  up  my  mind  about  the  n,  West;  ni 
|>retty  quick;  1  think  of  the  carnage    thiit  W()ul'Ti#g(  ntl<  i 


low  if  I  stood  out;  and  I  gently  hand  over  the  1  nourril 
I  me<,t  the  genllenuin  from  Virginia,  or  either  oect'the  J 
other  gentlemen  who  have  used  tl-.e  aavnt  (vigui)uld  be  en 
and  relate  the  whole  transaction  to  him.  Wlij  ci'iiuiim 
you  think  1  c  would  say?  Certainly,  that  I  h;ir  power 
out  of  the  .-(crape — that  is  certain;  Ijui  1  presui.Brtty  mill' 
would  tell  me,  that  he  would  have  liked  my  .ticn;  no 
some  better  if  I  liad  shown  a  little  more  )!urc  (n.i  ] 
[Laughter.]  This  is  then  I  think  a  fair  illiistming  .<ev( 
o'"  the  argument  apjicjded  to  our  iq>prehensioi;»  burden 
fears.  Can  a  nation  pause  jupon  such  an  aigii:.]— I  thi 
Ncvi;r,  sir,  never  !  tnnusaml 

Hut   what,  m;iy   I  ask,    is  our  position  in  ircluuitrm 
tion  to  this  f|uestion  ?     If  our  title  be  good,  vvl.teriu  the.'^ 
assert  it?  Shall  the  ariruments  I  have  been  ciunbintli-;    an 
prevent    us?     Ptticc  is    a    blessing,    but  it  initlftl  to  an; 
iionoiable  to  he   such.     If  the   notice   should  iti.-li  r.a.  \ 
produce  war,  I  insist  upon  it  we  are  bound  to  not  recol 
It;  we  must  move  in  tlie  matter.     We   have  (/:«■«/  .spee( 
the  49;h  inuallcl  of  hitiiiulc  as  a  compromise.  Ulion — [a 
Prcsiden!,  tells  us  this  has  been  done  and  rejec  tints  in  tin 
the  ['ritish  minister.     Will  any    man  ask    usfionicy 
to  oiler  It   under    these  eircunistances?     i-le  tel.W  'he  m; 
further,  that  the  oiler  thus  rejected  was   withda^taiiir  a 
and  our  "/;';/('  a;sirtcd  to  Uw  whdtof  Oregon.''''    *  year  m 
have  as.^erK'd  the  title  to  be    in   us,  and  l/ei'ev4«li   half 
assertion  just,  as  !  think    this  delate   show.-i  wfliWe  is  nr 
1  osk,are  w  ■  not  hound  on  every  princi|ileor!io;iV'«  said,  v 
proceed  lo  the  exclusive  occniunicy   of  what  i-Mpht^nt,  s« 
own?     If  Oregon    be  ours,  why  not  act  up  to  tli''ny,  sir,  ( 
lara'ioM,  and  [.ossesis  il?    VVe  must  doso — >.\  c ''It-light   ol 
get  iiwuy  from  it  without   dishonor — without  idthcr  voii 
doniiig  our  rights,  anrl  acquiescing  vmder  the  id  she  v.-a; 
ments  appealed  to  our  apprehentiirjns.     I  am  iOUsaiiu  w 
convinced  that  a  firm  and    fearless   assertion  iBSea'h. 
rights,  and  a  dot(rininatiori  to  maintain  theui,aoh  <''d  •" 
surest  way  to    prevent  difficullies   about  thenid  a  Kitle 
tliat  this  course  will  have  the  td'cct  to  insure  i"<li«i  — tiini 
i\lr.  Clvtirmai',  the  urgumentso  olten  urgKietrimcnt. 
(luunely,  the  pov.'cr  of  England,)  what  is  ii?    !  it    must 
lie  remtinbered  hov  it  was  disregarded  in  17*!j^    everj 
this  government  is  the  rt  suit  of  that  glorious  iBie,  m  e\ 
gard.     But  what  is  that  power?    The  populati ([•  in  moi 
Great  Bri'ain — of  I'oursc  including  Ireland  aiiiiiif»  if  will 
land— is,  at  most,  not  over  a7,00U,UtK)ofinhnl  «»,  with 
The  repealers  tell   us— and  Mr.   Smith  O'Bi  90d  cause 
law   in  Ireland    now — that    not  an  Irish   b.iMirs   o!  c 
should    be  taken   to  Oregon  to  assert  the  D*  ehall  p: 
claim.     INo  repealer,   at   least,   will  aid  in  it.  Mr.  'Mi: 
some  lie  means.     Here,  sir,  is  7,(lOU,0()0  out  Winn    fr( 
account  at  once.     In  oihcr  words,  in  a  contcf  «|ton  dis 
the  United  Stales,  Ireland  would  neutralize  l«fc»  spokf 
Will  they  bring    the   sepoys  from  Indi  i  to  fi.^.6«'>^''^'' 
No,  1  p.restime  not.     From  the  Ca|)e  of  Good 
will  they    bring    troops?    from    the    CauiuLj 
Vv'^hy,  :-ir.  tlicy  will  nee;l  troops  in  all  the.-e 
Some  will   be  employed   in  India;  some  in  •': 
some  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope;  :«ome  in  <* 


4 


ponie  to  l>eat  tlipsfi  "drums  round   the  world.' ijust  lo  r.nnjrctiir*!  thnl  t)it'   wish  wiu  pnren(  to  the 

1  urn  sure  th(«   ui^glitf  r.  |     But  let  uh   rfivt;rH«   poaitioriH  a   littli;,  '  thoiighi?     If  iIiim   winh  worn   mnde  rwility,  sir,  it 

if  ear.     Sir,   it  wii./^tie   what   they  miy   on   the.   other  sido  of  the  ■  would  sound,  to  my  ear,  likt    defeat,  dishonor;  like 

an  appeal  toiippnir.     A    few  year.M  a^o,  when  En(,'land  wanted  a  ,  driving'  the  last  nail  in  the  coffin  of  our  |)o!iti(al  ex- 

)f  the  ar5:unfientr  ;«  of  the  8tjite  of  Maine,  and  there  waa  talk   of;  idleno.e.     FkcauHc  thi.s  catniot  he  no,  until  ahandon- 

pose   I    nhould  n.r  with  tin;  United  Stales,  a  croaker — for  there  are  '  cd  liy  ourMelven,  wc  yield  the  juHtice  of  our  cause  to 

should  Heize  tne  li.ie  m  the   KntrliHh    Parliament — r.om|)hiine,d  that ,  ll,'' domineeriiitr  Hpirit  of  our  ancient  f,>e.     Ifthere- 

enat;  I  reply  yoi.  y  were  not  ready    l'>   fii;ht   uh;  that   their  port.s  j  mark  was  any  thing  eUe  than  a  fis;ure,  themaehin*- 

have  it,"  I  Iduk  uire  unprotei-ted;  their  towns  W(;ie  in    danfljer;  and  |  ry  to  round  olVa  Henlence,  I  regret  that  it  was  iittcr- 

Luughter.]  I  remet  an  armed  Airiericm  .«ieanier  cnuld  er.nic  outand  i  ed.     I  diKairree  with  the  .sentiment,  and   with  all  the 

'ked  Jim    Byrne,  » /,(tf(;/ee/.'    One  would  almo.st  he  inclined  to  he- '  ipiHlificaiiniiM  tli*;   (xentleman    f.urrounded     it   with. 

il   would   have   Hire  that  ihi.s  had  emanatfc!  t'rom  .^onie  ni'ialier  who    IJut,  .sir.  Mans  »(!husettrt  has  been   redeemed  from  a 

lie    waa  dead.     [•!  enu'.;lii  a  iittleofthecdiil'lenceofniy  tViend.sfionj    .suN|)ieion    that  inn/;  arniind    her  patriotism  on  thit 

liiid  (dioiU    the    n^  Went;  and  it  would   lie  easy  to  imaijiiic,  too,  th.il  |  .sulijeci  l>y    the    veneralije  frentleman   (Mr.  Adams] 

arna{:;e    that  woulna«f;eiitlenien  here  had  (auirla  a  littla  lMip;li.sh  f.iith  |  now  in  his  seatacrofii  the  w.iy.     His  speech  wa«  rc- 

y  hand    over  the  1  poured  it  out  eivr  f/icn — (pointins^   to  the  other    fre.sliin<:,  it  was  a  <:re:it  etlorl;  and,  illu.striou.s  a.s  had 

iri^inia,  or  either  naof  the  House.)    Th(;.se  thin.'jM  .show,  .sir,  that  we  i  hcen  the  history  of  hin  services,  this  last  act  was  an 

ed  tl-.e  aamt  aiyuDuId  he  cautious  how  we  hecome  alarmed.     Panic  '  actof  erciwnini^i^'lory,  iruniinalinij  all  the  past. 

on   to    him.     VVlia  common  ait;iiineiU.    .\l.\rm<'d,  sir;  why,  what  i.s        Mr,  Ciiairman.  I  havt!  hut  a  few  remarks  more  to 

lertainly,  lliat  I  hiir  power  that    we   nhould  he  alaimcil?     We  iiavc  |  make,     [f^'ries  of  '-^'o  on."  |     The  j^entlemaii  from 

lain;   hut  I  prcMii.Bilty  millifuis  of  population  — unitnl  and  free  p(»|)-    .MasH.ichn.sctis  j  \Ir.  VViNrituoe)   .spoke  of  our  titto 

have    liked    my  .tioii;   no   colonies   requiring  n  siandint,' army  to  ]  heiiiv  llw! /i,'.«i.     Hi.,  Ian!cn:isje  was:  "I  lu-ktiowledjijo 

'n  a    little  mort;  jsurc  our  po.s.-iession  in;  u  commercial  in  irine  I'tm-  lour  title  i.s  the.  lieht" — a  very  cuiisiderablc  coni'.ession. 

hink  a  fair  iilustmkij,' .>;evcral  hutelred.s  of  vessels  of  at,  least    1,000  j  Indeed,    it    ha.s  oeen  rnilier  common  to  .speak  thus. 

our  appreheiKsioiiiB  liord<'n — [;'.  voice,  more  than  a  ihotia.md  such,  ,  Now,  the  i(:iiiaik  has  always  .soiiiided  slranire  to  my 

ipoii  such  an  argii:.l— I    thank    the  jrcnileirian;    he   nays  more  than  j  ear.     \V  hy,  sir,  if  we   hiive  liie  hf.sl   title,  Ivii^lami 

thousand  Huc.h — a  ho.-'t  of  hardy  wliahimcn,  and  ,  has  none.     'I'iuM'e  is  no  su(;li   thins;  as  comjiaraiivea 

3  our   posititMi  in  ircluuitiiicn  to   m.ui  them  with.     Why   could   we.ahout  tiile — no  'jood,    ix'.tter,    hcMt.     [f  my    friend 

r  title  he  irood,  wit ©rm  the.se  vessels.'     It  coiiid   he   done,   in    a  r<;w  |  who  sils  Inside  mc  li".s  i\titli'  for  a  town  lot,  and  I 

1 1  have  heen  ciunli,intlis;    and    our    navy  w^ add  ;.^o  o\i'.  in  .^trcn.'rth  i  have  a /)c!/fi- one,  he  has /um^.     [Lauijhter.)    is  this 

lessinjr,   hul  it  iniuft!  to  ai'y  period  of  strcn^'h  in  the  history  of  the    notso.'    'I'lie  gentleman  from  (leorgia  is  a  lawyer, 

he   notice   should  ili.'-li  r.a.\ .     A  gentleiTum  the  other  day — 1  really    i.s  he  not — 

t  we  are  hound  to  not  recollect   who    it    vv-as,    for   there  have  been  j      yi^.    Uoi  „[.;s.     lam. 

Iter.     We   have  .,:«•«/ speeches  made  on    this   Oreu'on  (p.icstion  thin  ;      \ir[  q\  cuntinued.     And    a    very   "ood  one,  too. 
.s  a  compromise,  ilioii — [a  luuirh]-— uaid  th;it  all  the  iron  estaltlinh- '  fj^.m,,),,p,. -i  '"' 

en  done  and  rejec  i  jnts  in  the   Union  couM    init  supply  i^uns  (.'nouj^h  i  ^    i^-j,?  j_j„,  ^,,,,._     |  jjiipij    ;,.,y  il,f,t. 
my    man  ask    us  r  «ome  ye.ira  to  }!ut  us  in  a  proper  st.ite  of  delence.  i      j\|r  T.     No  "  hut   I    aia  very    flure  of  it.     Will 
mstarice«,;     He  trl.ve  the  mark  !     I   would  s^y,    my -,'ood  friend,  let  1 1„,   not  ti'irree  tliat  thi«  i.s  so:  If 'l  have  a  title  better 
■leeted  was   withd«,taiiii  alone,  and  old   I'enn.sylvama  herself  can  in  i,^,.,^  ,,ig  ,-,,,.  .^     jp^,.  of  pronerty,  why  he  \m^  none. 
■hoUof  Oicf^on.'"     e  year  make  gun.s  enmiich — 1   had  alrnostsaid  to  ;  yviiy?  hi^c-.uHe  !  have  the  title, 
ill   us,  and  lid'evrSftli   hulf  across    the     Pacific — [mucli  l.'.u,»;liin2-. ] 
s  del>;ite   show.s   vii(*e  i.s  nothing  in    this     tiu'ng,  1    a.ssure    you.     I 
ery  priniiiiiJeoflioiiVe  said,  ue  have  many  ves.-els  of  1,000  tons  in  the 
iiliaiicy   of  what  ifltphcmt.  service,  line  saileri;,  thai  could   he  armed, 
•hy  not  act  un  to  il/Ry,  sir,  one  of  our  j^all;int  seamen  r 
'  must  do  so — w  e  ilifTKht   of  it,  in  a  little  vessel — [a  voice,  "tVigate; 

] — a  frigate  at    Valparaiso 
ton  vcs.sel.    We  liave  now  a  i 
:hen.-;ions.     I  am  iQBsand  wel!  built 
-•arless   asacrtioii  >  BB  each.     Arm  th 


Mr.  Hoi. Ml.-,.     Wiiat  do  you  call  color  of  title.' 
Mr.  'V.    Why,  .sir  i  call  it  a  very  uiijiromising  look- 
ing thing.  I  Merriment.]  Ifa  man  goes  into  C(uirt  with 
r.,.,, .,  .1  rri  M-,    I  omIv  t\  co/'j'' of  t i t Ic,  ',0  is  uot  to  coiite  out  with  a  firetty 
iKVifrntf"  i '^''-'''y    ci)(o/'f(.  hill  ol  cost.^  to  pay.      [^A    laugh.  |     1, 
will  ^ive  you  an  in.-'tunce  of  color  of  title.     A  man 
huy.^a  furgrd  tiile,  ..ill!  eriler.^  into    po;5i)ession — this 
under  color  of  ut!c — it  would    not   be  a 
It   would  not  be  ft 


ishonor — without  ilfeher  voice, ihe  Esse.x 
escing  under  the  lO  she  v.-a,s  only  a  400-1 

:hen.-;fons.     I  am  iQBsand  wel!  built  market-ships,  from  800  to  1,000  I  '■"''•'■'"^'  '-'  ""^'^''  ^'If"'  "'/'^'c 

-arless   assertion,  n»  each.     Arm  these,   sir;  arm  them  !  and  we  will  i '■.^'y  I'-'^^'y/'"''"'-    . I '^■*"J"'^'^''--        ,        ,      ,  i 

o  maintain  them,  aoh  oid  Johny  liuU    th.it   the    Yankees  ;,,e  aH.KU;  i  "^'^^  ""'>^"  ^'^'^  Senuine  one  was  pro.luced      I  appeal 
■ultie.s   about  theud  a  little    harder  to   thrash  than  Mcmi.ur    CVn- ]  t^' "'>' .''J' H^^";'"  ''»''"  '.''"'•""^  colleague  [Mr.  In(;er- 

"reat    ^"'-'•1  ''  """'  "^  ""'  ^*^^' 
'H^.L  I      Mr.  C.  .1.  LsiiERsoi.i..     Every  v/ord  of  it  true. 


;  tfloct  to  insure  I'OU^ —thafs     K.-ench    f)r    you,     at      sea- 

lentso  (iitcn  nrctiiewiment.)     Sir,    I    have  no   fenv  of    thi.s    issue, 

\nd,)\vhat  is  II.'    lit    mu.st    come.      We    shall    have    the   advan-1     Mr.  T.  continued.  Color  of  title  in  Great  Britain, 

lisresrardcd  in  177ijJ*    everywhere,    and     in     all    places— in  every  |  if  we  have  the  be.st   title,  would   not  amount  to 

It  of  that  glorious  ime,  in  every  country.     We  shall  have  the  advan-   much. 

In  conclu.sion,  =■'>•,  let  met  advert  to  the  value  of 
I  Oregon.     It  has  i     aatiful    valley^;   and   fertile   soil; 


We  shall  have  the  advan- 
.•er.'  The  popula'gein  mora!  power,  in  piditic^l  as  well  a.s  physical, 
luding  Ireland  aiuiif,  i'  will  be  like  a  contest  betv.'een  a  young  brave 
7.000,000 of inhnliWi,  v.-itn  a  strong  arm,  a  clear  conscience,  and  a 
Mr.   iSniiih  O'l'i  sod  cau.se — with  wic.kid   old  age,  and  a  thousand 

not  an  Irish  b.'.BHr.s  of  crime  on  his  head.  In  .such  a  contest 
1  to  assert  the  l!«  shall  prevail — we  shall  prevail. 

t,    will  aid  in  it.  H4r.  rhairman.  I  must  notice  a  remr.ilc  of  the  gen- 


is  7,(100,000  out 


«tta 

#0 


an    from    Massachuseii--,    who  represents  the 

.'ords,  in  a  contc;  Wjjlon  district,   I   believe,   (Mr.    Winthp.op,]  and 

^ould  neutralizf^  I'rfl*  spoke  on  this  .suliject  some  time  .-.go.   1  admired 

rom  Indin  to  fi.lUgenlleman's  inaiui,.-  very  much.     I  did,  indeed. 


he  Cape  of  Good 
i-om    the    Caiiiul.l 
oops  in  all  the.-c  ^1 

India;  pome  in  (:■* 
rlope;  ;«otne   in  <' 


)ngst  other  remurk.s  he  ¥aid,  the  "cry  now  was, 
Bf  Oregon  or  none — and  echo  answers,  none  !" 
Iwhere  was  that  echo  from?  Was  it  here,  sir.' 
|ng  hi.s   hand    upon  hi.s  heart.)     Will  it,  not  be 


thi.".  coiusist  not  hn  great  value.  I  am  not  a 
prophet,  and  mo.^t  likely  never  will  be;  but,  sir,  I 
predict  and  believ  ;  that  the  London  of  America  ia 
(.e.-itined  to  be  bui't  on  the  coast  of  Oregon,  at  or 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Columbi;!.  The  city  that  is 
to  c;irry  on  the  comrnerce  with  India  and  China 
will  be  planted  there.  And  notwithstanding  it 
sound.s  wild  , Utopian,  a  railroad  will  be  made  across 
this  continent  to  the  Columbia — from  13,000  to 
20,000  mile,'!  of  navigation  in  the  voyage  to  China 
and  the  Indies  v^ ill  be  .saved  by  it — far  more  than 
half  the  voyage.  Captain  Fremont  astonishes  ufl  in 
Ills  descriptioti  of  the  great  South  Pa.9s  in  the  Rocky 


n>ounUan«.  Why,  sir,  wc '•an  cro<(H  Ihe  mrtuntams 
witliout  Hcarpelyr  perceiving  the  un-livity.  For  127 
mileit,  th«  aHcent,  he  IoIIh  u«,  iHgrmliial,  hnnlly 
perceptible;  and  ut  the  dividin-r  ridtje,  or  aptx, 
Uie  ucdivitv  Im  not  i.',mHcr  than  ;ho  a«cnnf  from  the 
Penn&ylviiniu  avenue  to  tliisi  Cupitol.  This 
M-illbetho  routu  for  ihi-  railroad  dcHtined  to  carry 
the  trade  und  commerce  of  the  East  on  ita  road  to 


I 


Ruropc,  aH  well  hh  into  the  heart  of  our  own  ■■ 
try.  The  iron  home,  will  thunder  through 
puhH,  heHrinj,'  m  hin  long;  train  the  riche.i  of 
wond,  fillintf  our  land  with  wealth  and  hi, 
ncs8.  tht;  abundant  fruitn  of  our  i^reatenterprinc 
view  ofthPHc  things,  I  nni  for  the  whole  of  Ori 
every  inrh  of  it.  and  I  heartily  de-'irc  the  nati' 
be  given. 


.'•' 


•> 


!  hfiurt  nf  our  own  c 
ill  thunder  thrdugh 
train  the  richer  fif 
itii  wcnlth  and  hh 
ouri^reutentprprim; 
ror  ihc  whole  of  On 
rtily  desire  the  nati' 


k 


